Utah Weeds and Wildflowers

Along Highways and Byways

As I drive along a road, if I happen to see something that looks like it would
make a good picture, I quite often stop (or turn around and go back) to take a
closer look. The following photographs were taken under such circumstances.

I make no guarantee that my identifications are correct. I am not a
professional botanist, although I have been a very interested amateur for many
years, and I have been on many professionally led field trips. In identifying
the subjects of my photographs, I usually remember being shown this same kind
of plant before, and being told its name. Often I remember the common name
and the scientific family name or genus name of the plant, but sometimes
the names have slipped my mind, just as the names of some of my human friends
cannot be immediately recalled if I haven't seen them for awhile. So I look
through books, comparing their illustrations and descriptions with the pictures
I have just taken. Even then, it is impossible to find perfect agreement from
one book to another. I try to do the best I can by listing the names that I
have been told or have read about. I also try to add any interesting notes
or other information when I can.

These are typical of the kinds of plants that everyone has seen, but
possibly never noticed. I hope these photos will help you take notice of
the beauties of Nature all around you.